News from MD Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health

E-newsletter
Volume 8 Issue 5

May 27, 2012

Greetings!

Below is our traditional salute to graduates, non-graduates and their families...

This time of year we joyfully mark many high school graduations. We extend special congratulations to these students whose high school experience may not have included sports teams or school plays, but rather such high school placements as alternative schools, nonpublic schools, residential centers, home and hospital instruction or possibly even in a detention center. Congratulations to the family members, as well, who worked equally hard to make sure their children got to school and received the appropriate services to enable them to succeed.

We also turn our thoughts to families whose children should have graduated this year, but did not. For those family members whose children have dropped out of school or have been expelled from school, we honor you as well for your efforts! Please know you are not alone! You have valiantly tried to help your child get through school, yet it wasn't to be. We admire your courage in not giving up and hope that in time your child will return to school or earn a GED.

-Jane A. Walker

Executive Director

Flash Mobbing for Children's Mental Health

MCF and our friends across the state celebrated a rousing Children's Mental Health Awareness Week, including a terrific flash mob with 100 dancers in the heart of Baltimore on May 9. Nothing like dancing to bring everyone together! Check out all the moves on YouTube.

Children's Mental Health Matters -

Baltimore Flash Mob 2012

The energized group even stopped traffic on Calvert Street in Baltimore long enough to snap a picture under the large banner hanging across the street.

MCF and our co-sponsoring organization, the Mental Health Association of Maryland, filled and sent out hundreds of Awareness Kits. The Maryland State Department of Education lent their support to the campaign, so many local school systems distributed materials in each school. This year, we developed a new Tip Sheet for Schools with activities to celebrate Children's Mental Health Awareness Week.

First Lady Mrs. Katie O'Malley served as honorary chair of our campaign for the fourth consecutive year, including producing public service announcements with her talking about the importance of children's mental health. At a reception in Annapolis on May 10, Mrs. O'Malley recognized the student artists from the Eastern Shore who created our 2012 poster

and introduced a video from the governor in recognition of Children's Mental Health Awareness week. The video can be viewed on YouTube.

Children's Mental Health Awareness

There were dozens of events across the state-and thousands across the country-calling attention to the importance of children's good mental health, including "Friday After Five" in Allegany County, Ujima Spring/Antibullying Block Party in Baltimore County, a family fun night in Harford County, presentations at the Neuroscience Center in Montgomery County and a Transition Age Youth Resource Fair in Talbot County.

To learn more about the campaign, visit www.childrensmentalhealthmatters.org.

Additional Funding for Low Intensity Support Services

The Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) is pleased to announce that effective May 29, 2012, an additional $1.25 million has been allocated for the DDA Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) program. These funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible people until June 30, 2012, or until all funds are allocated.

Low Intensity Support Services (LISS) are designed to enable a family to provide for the needs of a child or an adult with developmental disabilities living in the home or to support an adult with developmental disabilities living in the community. The LISS program is flexible to meet the needs of people or families.

People eligible for DDA's Service of Short Duration (SSD) funding will have their needs addressed under the Waiting List Initiative and not through LISS. The LISS agencies also are able to assist with requests under SSD. Additional information about the LISS program is available on the DDA website.

Looking for Families!

MCF is frequently asked whether we can identify families to give testimony, serve on committees or participate in focus groups. Here are some of the requests we recently received:

The Mental Health Association of Maryland is looking for families with private insurance who have been denied needed services for their child. They would like families to speak at a congressional field hearing on the federal parity law on June 26with former Rep. Patrick Kennedy and Rep. Chris Van Hollen at Friendship Heights Community Center. Call Adrienne Ellis at the Mental Health Association of Maryland at 410.235.1178, ext. 206 or e-mail her at aellis@mhamd.org for more details.

The Maryland Disability Law Center (MDLC) is looking for cases where schools have called police to deal with behavioral incidents for children with disabilities-perhaps for an at-school arrest, but also possibly that the police were called to escort the child to the hospital (sometimes called an emergency processing or placement), or police were called to restrain or threaten the child and then the police leave without making an arrest. If you would like to talk to MDLC about such an occurrence, please call 410.727.6352 ext. 0, 800.233.7201 or TTY 410.235.5387.

MCF is looking for families to participate in a focus group for families caring for a youth with both mental health and substance abuse disorders. Focus groups will be held at different locations around the state. The first group is being held on Wednesday, June 6, from 6:30-8:30 at RICA Rockville. For more information and to register, contact MCF's Ann Geddes at 410.730.8267 or ageddes@mdcoalition.org.

The Department of Human Resources, the state's child welfare agency, is looking for families who have had a personal experience with the DSS Child Protection Services system. They want families to serve on an advisory council to develop alternative responses when families need assistance with parenting. Contact MCF's Jane Walker at 410.730.8267 or jwalker@mdcoalition.org if you would like to confidentially discuss your participation on the committee.

U.S. Department of Education Releases Document Discouraging Seclusion and Restraint in Schools

On May 15, the U.S. Department of Education issued a publication that outlines principles for educators, parents and other stakeholders to consider when developing or refining policies and procedures to support positive behavioral interventions and avoid the use of restraint and seclusion.

The goal of this resource document is to help ensure schools are safe and healthy environments where all students can learn, develop and participate in instructional programs that promote high levels of academic achievement. The 15 principles that frame the document ultimately highlight how schoolwide behavioral interventions can significantly reduce or eliminate the use of restraint or seclusion. These guiding principles offer states, districts and other education leaders a framework for developing appropriate policies related to restraint and seclusion to ensure the safety of adults and children.

The document also provides a synopsis of ongoing efforts by federal agencies to address national concerns about using restraint and seclusion in schools, and includes links to state restraint and seclusion policies and procedures. To access this document, visit www2.ed.gov/policy/seclusion/index.html.

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Legislative Roundup

In a special one-week session in mid-May called by Gov. Martin O'Malley, the General Assembly passed a budget for the coming fiscal year, avoiding the triggering of so-called "doomsday" cuts.

While the budget was balanced in April, before the regular legislative session ended, lawmakers failed to agree on how to fund the budget. A combination of pension shifts, fund swaps and tax increases was OK'd May 15 that allows the budget to be enacted.

Final Input Sought on DSM Changes

The American Psychiatric Association is accepting public comments now through June 15 on proposed changes for the fifth edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). This is the first revision in more than a decade to the manual, considered the bible of mental health disorders. The new edition is scheduled for release next May.

Among the most controversial proposals is a dramatic change to the definition of autism, as DSM-5 authors weigh combining several disorders under one umbrella diagnosis of "autism spectrum disorders" with specific types of deficits required for the diagnosis. Under such a circumstance, it is thought many individuals currently diagnosed with autism may lose that diagnosis-and the services they receive because of the diagnosis.

In addition to the autism changes, the DSM committee has proposed replacing the term "mental retardation" with "intellectual developmental disorder," reflecting a shift already occurring in many circumstances. The criteria for the disorder would be changed to focus more heavily on mental abilities and adaptive functioning skills rather than IQ alone. Other conditions slated to be changed in the forthcoming DSM include those related to communication, socialization, motor skills and behavior.

Doctors on the panel rewriting the DSM already have dropped two proposals that might have expanded the number of people identified as having psychotic or depressive disorders, concluding "attenuated psychosis syndrome," proposed to identify people at risk of developing psychosis, and "mixed anxiety depressive disorder," a hybrid of the two mood problems, were not supported by evidence. They also tweaked their proposed definition of depression to allay fears that the normal sadness people experience after the loss of a loved one, a job or a marriage would be mistaken for a mental disorder.

Other disorders being evaluated for change in the upcoming revised manual include personality disorders, pedophilic disorder, communication disorders, somatic symptom disorder, non-suicidal self injury disorder, persistent complex bereavement disorder, neurocognitive disorders and anxiety disorders.

Click here for a detailed listing of updates to the draft proposals since July 2011.

Katie Beckett: Mourning the Loss of a True Pioneer

Katie Beckett, who put a face on the daily struggles of those with disabilities and their families in the 1980s and ultimately changed the lives of thousands who benefited from insurance reform and other changes stemming from Beckett's case, passed away this month in Iowa.

She contracted viral encephalitis as a 5-month-old and spent the ensuing three years in the hospital. The resulting respiratory condition required continued therapy and use of a respirator 12 hours a day. In her words, years later, she said, "I was forced to live in a hospital for the first three and a half years of my life because insurance companies would not pay for services to let me live at home."

Once her parents' private insurance maxed out, Medicaid took over the bills. At the time, Medicaid policy required a hospital stay for coverage of the respirator, even though it could be used at home. Beckett's mother, Julie, worked with Rep. Tom Tauke of Iowa to sponsor legislation creating what became known as the "Katie Beckett waiver" making in-home and community health care a matter of policy. It is estimated more than a half-million children with disabilities have had the chance to live at home with their families and participate in their communities instead of living in hospitals and institutions because of the "Katie Beckett waiver."

Katie herself grew up as a typical young woman living with a disability, went to college and worked as a writer and public speaker, living an independent life.

"Katie Beckett was a brave young woman whose family had to fight to bring her home from the hospital as a child, and who kept fighting to create opportunities for Americans with disabilities for the rest of her life," U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin said in a statement issued by his office. "Katie and her mother Julie made America a more welcoming place for children and adults with disabilities, and hundreds of thousands of children and families have benefited from the Medicaid waiver that bears Katie's name."

Maryland Youth Advisory Council

The Maryland Youth Advisory Council, established in 2008, offers the state's youth, ages 14-22, the opportunity to provide feedback and recommendations on public policies and programs. Members of the council are appointed by the governor, legislative leaders, the Maryland Association of Student Councils, University System of Maryland Student Council and the Maryland Higher Education Commission Student Advisory Council. Youth members serve a one-year term (Sept. 1-Aug. 31) and cannot serve more than two consecutive terms.

The council holds four meetings a year, including one public meeting specifically on issues of importance to youth; recommends legislation and testifies before legislative bodies; conducts a public awareness campaign on council issues; and provides an annual report to the governor and General Assembly.

Applications for the 2012-2013 term are available now and due July 1. Click here for the application.

Send completed applications to:

Christina Drushel, Prevention Specialist

Governor's Office for Children

301 West Preston St., Suite 1502

Baltimore, MD 21201

Phone: 410.767.2547

Fax: 410.333.5248

cdrushel@goc.state.md.us

Upcoming Events

2012 National Transition Conference: College & Careers for Youth with Disabilities-May 30-June 1. Information and support for youth and young adults with disabilities making the transition from school to adult life. Washington Marriott Wardman Park, Washington, D.C.

NAMI Basics Class-June 2-July 7, 10:30 a.m.-12 noon. This six-session course is taught by trained teachers who are also parents/caregivers of individuals who developed mental health issues in childhood. The curriculum discusses current information about the major childhood mental illnesses and provides the fundamentals a caregiver needs to care for themselves, their family and their child who is living with a mental illness. Free; registration is required. Call 410.435.2600 to register. Govans Boundary United Methodist Church, 5210 York Road, Baltimore.

Navigating the Special Education Process-June 13, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free presentation for parents, family members and professionals from the Kennedy Krieger Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD). Click here for more information and to register. CARD, 3901 Greenspring Ave., Creamer Building, 3rd Floor Large Conference Room, Baltimore.

14th Annual MANSEF Golf Tournament-June 18. Rattlewood Golf Course. Click here for more information.

Getting an Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis: Where Do I Go From Here?-June 25, 9:30 a.m. Free presentation for parents, family members and professionals from the Kennedy Krieger Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD). Click here for more information and to register. CARD, 3901 Greenspring Ave., Creamer Building, 3rd Floor Large Conference Room, Baltimore.

Maryland Parity Project-June 26, 7:30-9:30 p.m. The Maryland Parity Project is working with the National Parity Implementation Coalition to coordinate the DC Metro Parity Field Hearing with former Rep. Patrick Kennedy and Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. For more information, contact Adrienne Ellis at the Mental Health Association of Maryland at 410.235.1178 ext. 206 or aellis@mhamd.org. Friendship Heights Community Center, 4433 South Park Ave., Chevy Chase.

Parent Leadership Training-October 2012-March 2013, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The Parents' Place of Maryland is sponsoring a leadership training program for families of children with disabilities in southern Maryland. Topics to be covered include special education, IEPs, least restrictive environment, modifications and accommodations, dispute resolution, discipline and developing leadership skills. Six classes include lunch and all materials. Space is limited-application deadline is Aug. 15. For more information, contact Kelly Meissner at Kelly@ppmd.org or 410.768.9100. Apply online at www.surveymonkey.com/s/leaders1.

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